The Economics of Political Hacks - How Hamilton and Mazzochi Trashed COD

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The Economics of Political Hacks - How Hamilton and Mazzochi Trashed COD

Some data:

During Breuder’s tenure (2009-2105) total annual credit hour production GREW 25,177 credit hours or 5.1%.
Under the Mazzochi Board (2016-2017 with 2018 data due out this fall) annual credit hour production DECLINED 27,754 or -5.6%. Credit hour production determines tuition revenue, so Queen Hamilton and the Mazzochi Board cost the College $3.75 million in revenue so far. The dollar loss will likely grow once 2018 data is forwarded to the state this fall when it is required to submit its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report(CAFR). The above data comes from the 2017 CAFR, p 130. Taking into account the growth in enrollment during the Great Recession Available on the College’s web site. So under Breuder and before Hamilton and Mazzochi rode onto the scene as the “Clean Slate” yahoos the College grew enrollment when the state average for community colleges declined significantly. Then in comes the Mazzochi Board and we’ve lost more than our six year gain in two years. Is there any doubt that the enrollment decline is the result of the College being placed on probation by the Higher Learning Commission?

Remember the Commission’s interest in the College was initially prompted by the shameless trash authored by Clean Slate fed by the Edgar County Uglies and blindly trumpeted by the Chicago Tribune. Fake news at its finest, yet we in GE once again stuck holding the bag.

Queen Hamilton’s political aspirations started all of this and now we see Mazzochi running for IL State Rep D47 after trashing our College. Clean Slate Trustees handiwork comes at the taxpayers’ expense as well as ruining the reputation of a great asset. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Mazzochi’s Clean Slate reversed course and flushed the cash which of our prior Board which grew financial reserves by $134 million or 203% during their six-year tenure 2009-2015.

Don't forget to add that Breuder was the subject of a public censure and declaration of no confidence by a vote of the full COD faculty.

Or the personal dining room nestled in an on-campus tax-payer built 4-star restaurant with a nationally noted wine cellar - one in which some COD board members and area politicians enjoyed free drinks and meals.

Here's how the Chicago Tribune described the accreditation findings:

the commission detailed numerous ways the college had acted without integrity and in violation of its policies, in financial and academic areas — echoing concerns detailed in Tribune investigations throughout the past year. The agency cited the college's "regular" breaches of its investment policies, which added to costly losses; charges for alcohol at the campus' high-end restaurant; awarding exclusive contracts to vendors on the college's foundation board; and a lack of ethics training for employees.

The agency also found that the college's internal auditor had given senior administrators 43 separate reports involving unethical behavior, possible criminal conduct and violations of school policy during the past three years. College officials, however, could not document any actions taken as a result of those audits, the four-page letter from the HLC states.

"These incidents have demonstrated a lack of integrity in the College's operations and lack of adherence to established policies and procedures at the College," commission president Barbara Gellman-Danley wrote to Collins.

Just out of curiosity, but which of those on the partial list above of the many separately mentioned serious failures of Breuder are not a firing offense?

Some data:
Is there any doubt that the enrollment decline is the result of the College being placed on probation by the Higher Learning Commission?

Uh, yes, there is. The Technical Education Center (a $50MM facility), authorized as part of the 2002 referendum, opened in 2010. The Homeland Security Training Institute, a $25MM building, also authorized under the 2002 referendum, opened in 2011. The Health and Science Center, a $60MM building, authorized in the 2002 referendum, opened in 2011. On top of all that, voters approved another $168MM in a 2010 referendum. With that much money being spent and that many buildings and subsequent programs opening up - it's no surprise that credit hours went up too. A trained monkey could have sat in Breuder's seat during that time period and he would have seen enrollment increases - without the ritzy hunt club membership and wine benders at the on-campus bistro.

Don't forget to add that Breuder was the subject of a public censure and declaration of no confidence by a vote of the full COD faculty.

Or the personal dining room nestled in an on-campus tax-payer built 4-star restaurant with a nationally noted wine cellar - one in which some COD board members and area politicians enjoyed free drinks and meals.

Here's how the Chicago Tribune described the accreditation findings:

Just out of curiosity, but which of those on the partial list above of the many separately mentioned serious failures of Breuder are not a firing offense?

Are there any?

Breuder is gone...how this cabal of yahoos fired him with all of their lawyers’ pricey advice is now being revealed as reactionary posturing and name calling with an important guest (due process) never being considered, much less invited. Whether there were grounds is not what troubles me, it’s how Queen Hamilton and her Headless Horsemen have conducted themselves. It’s an expensive, nauseating and embarrassing food fight that has dragged a fine institution down.

Uh, yes, there is. The Technical Education Center (a $50MM facility), authorized as part of the 2002 referendum, opened in 2010. The Homeland Security Training Institute, a $25MM building, also authorized under the 2002 referendum, opened in 2011. The Health and Science Center, a $60MM building, authorized in the 2002 referendum, opened in 2011. On top of all that, voters approved another $168MM in a 2010 referendum. With that much money being spent and that many buildings and subsequent programs opening up - it's no surprise that credit hours went up too. A trained monkey could have sat in Breuder's seat during that time period and he would have seen enrollment increases - without the ritzy hunt club membership and wine benders at the on-campus bistro.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that last year, community colleges enrolled about 5.9 million students, while in 2014 that number stood at about six million. In fact, the colleges have been on a steady decline since 2010, ending the increases many saw when the economic downturn hit in 2008.

Mazzochi, her board and administration have really done a fine job of leading COD - their comparative success in keeping enrollment declines in check compared to other community colleges is a real testament to their hard work and commitment:

COD, off just 5.2%

Waubonsee CC, -8.6%

Harper CC, -10.3%

Lake County CC, -10.9%

McHenry CC, -10.9%

Elgin CC, -11.5%

Oakton CC, -14.1%

The best enrollment holds in all of Northern Illinois, and mostly 2-3 times better at that! Thank you COD Chair Deanne Mazzochi !

We have the finest facility among them by a large margin and are still negative on enrollment. Cheering that COD is down the least among these also rans is to
celebrate mediocrity. Jombl I think you dropped a pom-pom...

Originally Posted by jombl

Mazzochi, her board and administration have really done a fine job of leading COD - their comparative success in keeping enrollment declines in check compared to other community colleges is a real testament to their hard work and commitment:

COD, off just 5.2%

Waubonsee CC, -8.6%

Harper CC, -10.3%

Lake County CC, -10.9%

McHenry CC, -10.9%

Elgin CC, -11.5%

Oakton CC, -14.1%

The best enrollment holds in all of Northern Illinois, and mostly 2-3 times better at that! Thank you COD Chair Deanne Mazzochi !

You love quoting everything from wise statements of others to selectively plucked stats. Yet you choose to persist in denying that which is self evident. The harm done and continuing to be visited upon our town's greatest single asset (COD) by the Clean Sweep politicos is manifest. They've accomplished nothing good or positive. They were forced to settle and pay $$$ after firing 2 COD executives and now are having their lunches handed to them by Breuder in Federal Court. We all know who pays for all of this Jombl...look at your tax bill if you are still unsure. Besides the expense, this is not how adults are expected to conduct the business they were elected to tend to as Trustees.

It is embarrassing that Hamilton, Mazzochi, Napolitano were allowed to savage COD playing to the Tribune and the Edgar County uglies...ignoring basic concepts of civility and due process that most of us learned by 8th grade. And yet you go on heaping praise on Deanne when she deserves nothing of the kind. To think she may get elected to higher office is repugnant. Please know that while I respect your right to have a different opinion, I believe our discussion has reached the boredom breaking point.